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Forty-six leading members of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) had picked nomination forms to contest for the various national leadership positions at the close of nomination on Wednesday. The positions being contested for are the National Chairperson, three positions for the Vice Chairperson, General Secretary, National Organizer, National Women Organizer, National Youth Organizer, National Treasurer and NASARA Coordinator. Five leading members are contesting for the Chairmanship slot, they are: Mr Paul Afoko, Mr Steve Ntim, Mr Fred Oware, Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, and Professor Mike Ocquaye, whilst eleven people are contesting for the first, second and third Vice Chairmanship positions. They are: Mr Sammy Crabbe, Mr Freddie Blay, Mr Fred Amankwa Sarfo, Sheikh T.B. Damba, Mrs Serwaa Akoto Sam, Mr F. F. Antoh, Hajia Fati Amadu, Mogtari Sahanum, Mr Michael Oware Wadie, Mr Kenwuud Nuworsu, and Madam Afua Kyerewah Nyantakyi. Four are contesting for the General Secretary position: Mr Yaw Buaben Asamoah, Mr Kwabena Agyepong, Mr Kwadow Owusu Afriyie, and Captain Nkrabea Effa Dartey. Another four are contesting for the National Organiser slot; Alhaji Moctar Bamba, Mr Hopeson Adorye Yaovi, Mr John Boadu, and Mr Mahama Mahammoud. Four are contesting for the National Treasurer slot. They are Madam Sussie Mensah, Madam Esther Ofori, Hajia Ahmed Sauda Ruka, and Mr Kwabena Abankwah Yeboah. For the National Women Organiser slot, three people are contesting: Mrs Mawusi N. Awity, Madam Tina Mensah, and Madam Otiko Djaba. Seven are contesting for the National Youth Organiser position. They are Madam Gifty Oware, Mr Charles Adu Gyamfi, Mr Sammy Awuku, Mr Pius Enam Hadzide, Mr Michael Kwabena Ampong, Mr Richard Kwesi Nyamah, Mr Emmanuel Attefuah-Danso. Eight are contesting for the NASARA Co-ordinator post. They are Alhaji Sadat Awudu, Mr Kamal Deen-Abdlai, Alhaji Aminu Ibrahim, Alhaji Abdulai Taminu, Mr Salihu Yahaya Bo, Mr Abubakari Sulemani, Mr Kassim Ibrahim, and Mr Haruna Mohammed Maiga. The GNA�s analysis of the contestants indicates that out of the 46 aspirants for the various positions, only ten are women. Three women are contesting for the position of Vice Chairperson; three for National Treasurer; three for the National Women�s Organiser slot and one for the National Youth Organiser slot. The various aspirants are expected to fill the completed nomination forms and pay the appropriate fees between February 7 and 10 at the party headquarters, Mr Perry Okudzeto, Acting Director of Communication of the party told the Ghana News Agency in an interview. He explained that qualified aspirants would be vetted on February 12 and 13. Each aspirant is expected to pay a filing fee of GH�5,000.00 for the Chairman and Vice Chairman positions; and GH�3,000.00 for the other positions, excluding the position of the National Youth Organizer which is GH�2,000.00. Meanwhile Mrs Cecilia Abena Dapaah, former Minister for Works and Housing, and former MP for Bantama Constituency told the GNA that the close of nominations is a major step towards the election of National Executives of the party. The NPP on Monday opened nomination which was to close on January 29 at 1600 hours. Mr Charles Owiredu, NPP Director for International Affairs, told the Ghana News Agency that the results of the vetting would be announced by the National Executive Committee (NEC), after accessing the aspirants. According to the party, election of national executives slated for March 1st would be done on a regional basis instead of the usual routine of converging at one venue to elect national officers. The new arrangement means that all delegates in a particular region will converge at a venue in the region to elect their preferred candidates for national positions.